The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-02-14
FROM wAsHlNcron.
A Resume of the Work In House and
and Senate Last Week.
Democrats Who Disagree on the
Post office Bill.
Mr. Reeds Mackerel BiiI Returned tc
the House.
An Outline of the Business OF the
Present Week.

the Senate passed the Indian appropriation
bill, after which Senator Morgan took the
| floor for speech on the Eads Ship Railway
bill, speaking until adjournment In the
House the so called Fourth of July claim
bilp' was passed and consideration of the
consular and diplomatic appropriation bill
was commenced. Monday the Senate passed
the twin bills appropriating S21,0O0,000 for
the manufacture of ordnance, armor, etc.,
and for coast defences. Under special or
der large number of House bills on the
calendar were passed during the morning
hour, after which Senator Morgan completed
his speech upon the Eads bill. In the House
it was bill day but only a few were intro
is of little use to introduce bills. Among
those presented was one by Mr.. Dingley for
the protection of the fisheries, which forbids
Canadian vessels from fishing within three
miles of our coast. 1t was also individual
suspension day and it was expected that
some one would be recognized to move to
suspend the rules and pass bill repeating
the tobacco tax. But the speaker, influenced
by the advice of Mr.. Morrison, refused to
recognize any one for this purpose. and
in all probability the last chance of this
session for reducing the revenue was lost
A bill for two new judicial districts in Mis-
souri,, bills providing for the erection of
public buildings at Augusta, Georgia, De-
troit, Michigan, and Troy, n. Y, and giving
the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska railroad
the right of way through Indian territory
were passed. Tuesday the Senate devoted
to the consideration of Congressman Reeds
bill for the protection of mackerel during
the spawning season. Senators Miller,
Salisbury and Mr.. Mcpherson opposed the
bill, and Senators Palmer, Hale, Frye, Gray,
Hoar and Dawes supported it. In the House
bill abolishing fees for United States
marshals, attorneys and commissioners was
considered without action, Congressman
Reed opposing it. The Chinese indemnity
bill was then passed; also bill 10 protect
submarine cables. A bill to promote arbitra-
tion and encourage commercial relations be-
tween the United States and the Republic Of
Central and South America and the empire
of Brazil was considered but not acted upon
finally. An evening session was held at
which eulogies were delivered in memory of
the late New York Representatives, Arnot,
Beach and Dowdney. Wednesday the Sem
ate devoted to eulogies of the late Senator
Logan. Senator Frye of Maine delivering
one of tho best of the afternoon. The House
considered the consular and Diplomatic ap-
preparation bill until o'clock, when by
special order a resolution of respect to the
memory of the late Representative Pine Of
Wisconsin faEau md o.,1cr l.
livered in his memory. Thursday the Sem
ate passed the mackerel bill, and Senator
Hoar began speech ON the Eads bill The
House further debated the consular and
diplomatic appropriation bill, without final
action however. Friday, Senator Hoar com
pleted his speech on the ship railway bill,
and the post office appropriation bill was
taken up and completed with the exception
OF Senator Frye's amendment, appropriating
$5OO,OOO for carrying our mails to the Central
and South American republics and Brazil,
which as there was disposition manifested
to debate it at some length, went over to
Saturday. The House devoted its time to
private bills, the only public measure being
the reading of the Presidents veto of the
dependent parents pension bill. which was
then referred to the committee on invalid
pension.
The Post Office Bill.
The Senate on Saturday again gave the
manifestation of its willingness to advance
the cause of American shipping, and to pro-
mote our commercial relations with republics
south of us by inserting for the third time in
as many years clause in the post Office ap-
preparation bill appropriating 100000 to
secure greater frequency and regularity in
the dispatch of mails between our ports and
Central and South American countries. The
vote this year was 35 for the amendment and
IA, all Democrats, against Last year the
vote was 80 for the amendment and IS
against, six Democrats voted with the Re-
publicans for the amendment both this year
and last. Senator Voorhees,, who voted for
it last year being absent Saturday, and
Senator Morgan who was absent last year
voting for it this year. The other Democrats
who thus manifested their independence Of
party in this matter were Messrs. Call of
Florida, Eustis of louisiana, German of
Maryland. Payne of Ohio, and Pugh of Ala
bama. Mr.. Beck of Kentucky was, as usual,
the chief opponent Of the amendment, while
Mr.. Vest Of Missouri closely seconded him.
The amendment was championed by Senator
Plumb of Kansas, who reported the bill and
by Messrs. Eustis and German. Senators
Hale and Frye both contented themselves
with the record they had made in past years
in support of like amendments and took but
little part in the debate. Indeed the debate
was limited for the most part to the Demo
cratic side, the somewhat anomalous spectacle
being presented Of two Democratic Senators
supporting Republican measure in direct OBJ
position to the majority Of their party. Senas
torsEustis and German both made strong
speeches and completely routed Mr.. Beck,
who claimed that the Postmaster General
was utterly opposed to any such legislation,
by quoting from Mr.. Villas last annual re-
port in which he distinctly recommended
such measure and asked for money and au-
thority to make contracts for carrying mails
to countries mentioned for the purpose of
promoting commercial and industrial rela-
tions with them. Their exposition of the
case was so clear and able that there was no
need for Republican Senators to utter word
in behalf of the amendment, and they simply
sat and enjoyed Mr.. Beck's discontinue
at the hands of his own party friends
Whether the House will agree to the amend
ment or not remains to be seen. In view Of
the decided change of base on the part Of
the Postmaster General it is hoped by the
friends of the measure that enough votes
will be changed to secure its adoption.
The PiIotage Monopoly.
The bill to place sailing vessels in coast
wise trade on the same basis as to pilotage
as steam vessels in the same trade, and to ex-
empt coastwise sailing vessels when towed
by tugs under charge of United States pilot
from obligations to pay State pilots not used
cannot be reach this session in season to
secure its passage, and the shipping commit
tee, after consultation with vessel owners
the committee have decided not to attempt to
bring it up in the House even If the shipping
committee is reached 1t cannot be reached
before next week and the friends of the
pilots intend to filibuster so as to use up the
two hours allowed the committee If the bill
is brought up. This compels postponement
of the fight between the pilotage monopoly
and vessel owners to the next Congress.
Mr.. eed's Mackerei Bill.
The request of the Senate for conference
on tha mo clraral hill did not find passage